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ElEction 2020 See FINAL reSuLtS At LIherALd.com
HERALD Gazette
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NOVEMBER 5 - 11, 2020
Hotly contested North Shore race results are still uncertain By lAuRA lANE llane@liherald.com
As the American people anxiously awaited word on Wednesday of who their next president would be, North Shore residents were also uncertain about who their local elected leaders would be — in particular, whether leader George Santos or incumbent Tom Suozzi would be the next representative of the 3rd Congressional District. Thousands of absentee ballots remained uncounted because they could not be opened until seven days after the election. As of Wednesday, there were 48,097 outstanding absentee ballots in Nassau County and 23,846 in Suffolk County. Northeast Queens, which Suozzi represents, had 13,947 absentee ballots. The registration of the ballots was 51 percent Democratic, 17 percent Republican and 32 percent blank. Suozzi and State Sen. Jim Gaughran, both Democrats, lagged behind in their races. “As we await the final tally of all votes, we are confident of Congressman Tom Suozzi’s victory,” said Suozzi’s senior adviser, Kim Devlin. “It is clear that Tom will win re-election by a substantial margin. Democrats hold a 3-1 advantage in the nearly 90,000 absentee votes yet to be
Cuomo issues new public water bill we can best deliver safe, reliable water service to our customers,” DiMenna said in a statement, G o v. A n d r e w C u o m o “especially given our excellent announced legislation on Oct. 28 response to Tropical Storm Isacalling for the state to examine ias and Superstorm Sandy, our the feasibility of a water quality compublic takeover of pliance record New York American where all federal/ Water’s infrastrucstate standards are ture in Nassau continuously met County. T he bill and unparalleled would require a investment in aging study by the state water infrastrucPublic Service Comt u re. T h e s t u dy mission to be conwould also demonducted by April 1. strate that the speThe legislation cial franchise tax would also call for unjustly placed on steeper penalties for our customers is the utilities with a real issue impacting record of poor affordability.” responses during State Sen. Jim emergencies such as Gaughran authored storms. This, offia bill this summer cials said, would that would establish force utilities to be a public water more accountable authority on the StAtE SEN. for their actions. North Shore. The NYAW President JiM GAuGHRAN Senate passed it Lynda DiMenna said nearly unanimously that a PSC study in J u l y, and would reveal that the private Gaughran was chosen as the utility’s maintaining control of prime Senate sponsor of Cuothe North Shore’s water infra- mo’s bill. The governor’s legislastructure would be more benefi- tion, he said, would be a “gamecial for area ratepayers than a changer” because it would hold public takeover. “We believe a study would demonstrate that Continued on page 4
By MikE CONN
mconn@liherald.com
Courtesy Edmund Smyth
EdMuNd SMytH HAd a substantial lead over State Sen. Jim Gaughran, but roughly 36,000 absentee ballots remained to be counted. counted, and we expect Tom’s margin of victory to be over 20,000 votes.” Gaughran’s advisers and staff also said they were hopeful. “There are nearly 30,000 absentee votes, the majority of which appear to be from Democrats,” Marissa Espinoza, Gaughran’s spokeswoman, said. “It is vital that every vote be counted. I’m confident that this full count will favor Senator Gaughran.” Edmund Smyth said he was optimistic that he would maintain his lead over Gaughran after the absentee votes were counted. “Last night showed vot-
ers across Long Island agreed change was needed to bring common sense to Albany,” he said. “We built a solid cushion of roughly 10,000 votes going into the opening of absentee ballots, and I am confident that when all votes are counted, we will be successful.” Democratic State Assemblyman Charles Lavine and Republican Assemblyman Michael Montesano were clear victors on election night. Lavine said he was grateful to his constituents who voted, whether they supported him or Continued on page 3
ElEction RESUltS office
VOl. 29 NO. 45
Winner/Leader
opponent
3rd c.d.
george Santos (R) – 51%
tom Suozzi (d) – 49%
5th S.d.
edmund Smyth (R) - 56%
Jim gaughran (d) - 44%
13th A.d.
Charles Lavine (d) - 58%
andrew Monteleone (R) - 42%
15th A.d.
Michael Montesano (R) - 61% Joseph Sackman (d) - 39%
i
think it’s the beginning of the end for New York American Water in terms of continuing as a private entity providing service for people in Nassau County.